Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Tamper-evident lid
Description
The invention relates to a tamper-evident lid for a container, the container
comprising an opening
edge which runs around an upper container opening and is in particular flanged
with a lid piece
essentially covering the upper container opening, and a lid edge running
essentially downwards
from the lid piece towards the container, comprising, at least in some
positions, a locking element
which grips below the opening edge, which may be definitely separated from the
lid in particular
together with a lower edge end section of the lid edge for removal of the lid
from the container.
Such a lid is known from US-A-5002198. The corresponding lid piece is placed
on the opening
edge from above and covers the container opening. This lid piece is connected
to the lid edge
extending from the lid piece vertically downwards. The lid edge essentially
tangentially abuts the
curled or flanged container edge, and a locking element projects from its free
end and ends below
the opening edge essentially gripping below the same.
In order to release the lid from the container in a tamper-evident or break-
open evident manner, a
portion of the lid edge and in particular a lower edge end section is
separated together with the
locking element. Subsequently, the lid can be removed from the container. The
definite separation
of the edge end section with locking element from the rest of the lid
essentially ensures that even if
the lid is still or again placed on, one can find out whether the same had
been already removed by
another user or was at least prepared for removal. This permits to detect any
manipulation or any
attempt of breaking open or opening the container. Such a lid can, for
example, prevent that the
corresponding container is opened, the contents is somehow influenced or else
partially taken out
and the container is subsequently closed again without the opening of the
container being
identifiable from outside.
In the above-mentioned lid, there is, however, the possibility that a
manipulation takes place at the
locking element, so that the same can be elastically deflected radially
outside so far that the locking
element no longer grips below the container edge and the lid can be released
from the container
even without definite separation of the lower edge end section. Furthermore,
the vertically
extending lid edge can be only slightly elastically deflected, so that when
the lid is being placed
onto the container, the locking element has to have a correspondingly high
elasticity so that it can
be sufficiently deflected radially outside in the region of the opening edge
curled outwards. This
relatively high elasticity of the locking element permits a corresponding
manipulation for removing
the lid in that due to this relatively high own elasticity of the locking
element the same can be more
easily deflected outwards and the lid can then be removed from the container.
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve a tamper-evident lid of
the type mentioned in
the beginning, such that the same is secured against possible manipulations of
the locking element
for removing the lid in a constructively simple manner, and that on the other
hand the closing
function of the lid is ensured.
This object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
The invention is in particular characterized by the lid edge extending
essentially inclined
downwards and outwards from the lid piece and the locking element being
designed as locking edge
running in the circumferential direction of the lid.
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By the use of a surrounding locking edge, there are no possibilities of coming
laterally between the
locking edge and the inclined extending lid edge and for example thereby
releasing the locking edge
from the engagement below the container edge. By the inclined downward and
outward extension
of the lid edge, the same can also be elastically deflected when the lid is
being placed on, so that the
locking edge as well as the lid edge are elastically deflected when the lid is
being placed on, and
thus the elasticity essentially does not only exist in the region of the
locking element.
Moreover, with the inclined extending lid edge, the corresponding locking edge
can not be brought
into an essentially vertical arrangement without simultaneously manipulating
the lid edge in order
to possibly remove the lid from the container. Instead, by the inclined
arrangement of the lid edge,
the corresponding locking edge is held in a certain inclined position even if
it abuts the lid edge
from the inside, so that it is almost impossible to shift it past the opening
edge for removing the lid
without any visible traces.
This increases the tamper-evidence of the lid according to the invention in a
simple manner.
Simultaneously, placing on the lid onto the container is facilitated by the
distribution of elasticity on
the lid edge and the locking edge, without the tamper-evidence or the
tightness of the lid being
reduced thereby.
According to the invention, it is possible for the corresponding lid piece to
have various shapes. On
the one hand, the geometric shape of the lid piece along the opening edge
essentially corresponds to
the shape of the container opening. On the other hand, it is possible that
outside the opening edge
the lid piece is, for example, curved, buckled or deformed in any other way
towards the inside of
the container, or else that it is correspondingly deformed away from the
container. A simple lid
piece that is also easy to manufacture can be essentially plane. It then rests
on the container edge
and covers the complete container opening in order to secure the same against
external influences
and simultaneously seal the contents of the container.
In order to facilitate for example the handling of the lid for removing it
from the container, the lid
piece can comprise an edge flange running in the circumferential direction and
essentially vertically
projecting upwards.
The lid edge can be directly connected to the plane lid piece or else to the
edge flange.
In a simple example for a direct connection with the edge flange, the lid edge
comprises an
essentially inverted U-shaped upper edge end section, the edge flange being
inserted into the U-
opening and fixed there. The depth of the U-opening can essentially correspond
to the vertical
length of the edge flange. In this manner, the edge flange is gripped on both
sides by the
corresponding U-legs of the upper edge end section and can, for example, be
fixed to them by
gluing, heat sealing or otherwise.
There is the possibility for the lid edge to uniformly extend from the upper
to the lower end inclined
downwards and outwards. However, to facilitate or improve the placing on and
simultaneously the
sealing by the lid edge, the lid edge can comprise between the upper edge end
section and its lower
end at least one upper and one lower edge section which extend each inclined
outwards away from
the lid piece and which are then connected by an essentially vertical
intermediate edge section. This
intermediate edge end section can serve in particular for abutment with the
opening edge from the
outside, so that the lid itself can be securely placed onto the container and
held there even if the
edge end section is definitely separated.
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This essentially stepped inclined extension of the lid edge results in an
optically advantageous
appearance for the lid, and the lid can be more easily gripped and placed onto
the container.
The already mentioned lower edge end section can in this connection be
designed such that it
essentially vertically extends between the lower edge section and the lower
end of the lid edge. This
results in the space between the lower edge end section and the container wall
being smaller than in
case of an inclined extension of this lower edge end section, so that there is
less space for possible
manipulations.
The essentially vertical extension of the intermediate edge section and the
lower edge end section
can also be replaced by a certain inclined extension of these sections, these
sections extending
inclined outwards with a smaller angle of inclination than the upper and lower
edge sections.
For the optical appearance and for the manufacture of the lid, it is
furthermore considered to be
advantageous for the angles of inclination of the upper and lower edge
sections and/or of the
intermediate and lower edge end sections to be the same.
A stabilisation of the lower edge end section and thus equally a stabilisation
of the locking edge can
result by designing at least the lower edge end section with two layers, i. e.
an outer and an inner
layer. Thereby, this lower edge end section has an increased stiffness which
on the one hand
complicates its manipulation for removing the lid and on the other hand
reinforces the locking edge.
In a simple embodiment, the locking edge can be designed as prolongation of
the inner layer. In this
case, it simply extends in prolongation of the inner layer towards the
container in order to grip
below the corresponding opening edge.
The locking edge can project directly as prolongation of the inner layer in
the region of the lower
edge end section. However, there is also the possibility for this inner layer
to extend at least
partially to the lower edge section and for the corresponding angle of
inclination of this edge
section to serve for deflecting the inner layer and thus the locking edge
towards the container wall.
In this case, the angle of inclination of the lower edge section can equally
be continued in the
locking edge, so that this extends inclined upwards towards the container wall
when the lid is
placed on and grips below the opening edge.
It was already pointed out that according to the invention the elasticity for
deflecting the lid edge
and the locking edge and thus for placing the lid onto the container is
distributed to the lid edge and
the locking edge. Just when the lid is being placed onto the container, it is
an advantage for the
locking edge to be elastically deflectable radially outwards. This at least
concerns the portion of the
locking edge projecting from the lower edge section or the lower edge end
section, respectively.
In order to ensure a space as small as possible between the free end of the
locking edge and a
container wall and simultaneously complicate a manipulation of the locking
edge, the locking edge
can have at its free end an end edge of cut essentially extending in parallel
to the container wall
when the lid is placed on. This end edge of cut can also directly abut the
container wall when the lid
is placed on. The corresponding extension of the end edge of cut complicates a
spreading and thus
passing by of the free end of the locking edge at the opening edge.
For opening the lid, the definite separation of the lower edge end section and
the locking edge from
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the rest of the lid is necessary. In order to be able to perform this in a
simple manner, a tear device
can project from the lid edge. It is also possible that more than one tear
device is arranged. The tear
device can, for example, approximately perpendicularly project from the lid
edge, so that it can be
easily gripped laterally of the lid edge and can then be used for separating
the corresponding portion
of the lid. It is also possible that the tear device extends in prolongation
of the lid edge at its lower
end.
To permit a rupture in the lower edge end section in a secure and controlled
manner by the tear
device, in the region of the tear device and in particular at its front edge
in the tearing direction, an
essentially vertical tear aid can be formed in the lid edge. If the tear
device is then gripped and
moved into the tearing direction, first the lid edge is ruptured along the
vertical tear aid, and
subsequently a further separation of the corresponding portion of the lid edge
essentially in the
circumferential direction is effected.
Such a tear aid can have various designs. In general, it is designed as
material weakening line. Such
a material weakening line can be a material thinning, a perforation or the
like.
In order to also permit the further removal of the corresponding portion of
the lid edge in a simple
and controlled manner and simultaneously not to deteriorate the appearance of
the lid even after this
portion has been removed, an edge tear-off aid extending in the
circumferential direction can be
formed essentially perpendicularly to the tear aid in the lid edge spaced
apart from its lower end.
This aid intersects the perpendicular tear aid, so that when the tear device
is moved into the tearing
direction, after the rupture of the tear aid subsequently the further
separation of the corresponding
portion of the lid edge is effected along the edge tear-off aid.
The edge tear-off aid can be designed as material weakening line similarly to
the tear aid.
In order to ensure in this connection that even with a correspondingly
separated portion of the lid
edge a placing on of the lid onto the container and a holding of the lid by
means of the lid edge at
the opening edge are still possible, the edge tear-off aid can be arranged
closer to the lower end of
the lid edge than the opening edge when the lid is placed on the container.
This ensures that after
the corresponding portion has been torn off, a sufficient portion of the lid
edge remains for it to
essentially extend over the opening edge downwards and a replacing of the lid
and secure holding
of the lid at the container is possible.
For the lid, essentially various materials are conceivable. The lid can be
completely or only partially
made of a plastic material. This can be at least partially transparent or
translucent. This can in
particular apply to the lid piece. Thus, the contents of the container are
visible. A lid easy to be
manufactured and recycled can result from the lid essentially being made of
one or more paper
layers. Moreover, such a paper layer can be easily imprinted for advertising
purposes or for giving
an indication of the contents of the cup.
As, if the lid is placed on, the lid piece is to protect the contents
contained in the container from the
penetration of undesired substances, but also from a leaking of the container
contents, at least in the
region of the lid piece, a fluid-tight plastic foil can be applied to its
bottom side. Such a plastic foil
additionally prevents that, for example in case of a liquid being contained in
the container, the paper
layer of the lid and in particular the lid piece is soaked by the liquid and
possibly optically affected.
It is naturally also possible that the lid or one of its parts does not
consist of only one paper layer,
but of interconnected and in particular laminated paper layers. It was already
pointed out that at
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least in the region of the lower edge end section the construction consists of
two layers, where the
inner layer forms the locking edge. Here, too, the corresponding layer can be
a paper layer.
In order to be able to store the lid in a simple manner for closing the
container or after its
manufacture, respectively, the lid can be stackable and unstackable.
Such a stackability and unstackability can be achieved, for example, by an
internal diameter of the
lid edge being, at least at its lower end, larger than an external diameter of
the upper edge end
section. A corresponding relation between internal diameter and external
diameter can also be
present for the lower edge end section, possibly down to the region of the
lower edge section which
improves the stackability of the lids.
For the lids not to get stuck when they are stacked such that an end stack,
for example by a
corresponding automaton, is complicated, the locking edge can be designed as
stack stop element
which abuts the upper edge end section from outside and in particular from
above when the lids are
stacked.
In the following, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated more in
detail with reference to the
figures enclosed in the drawing.
In the drawings
Figure I shows a partially sectional side view of a first embodiment of a
tamper-evident lid
according to the invention placed on the container;
Figure 2 shows an enlarged representation of a detail "X" of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a view analogous to Figure 2 with two lids stacked one upon the
other;
Figure 4a shows a first step when the lid is being placed onto a container;
Figure 4b shows a second step when the lid is being placed onto a container;
Figure 4c shows a lid placed on the container after the steps of Figures 4a
and 4b;
Figure 5 shows a partially sectional side view of two lids stacked one upon
the other analogous to
Figure 3;
Figure 6a shows a partially sectional side view of an embodiment of a lid
according to the invention
with tear device;
Figure 6b shows the lid according to Figure 6a in a partially torn open state,
and
Figure 7 shows a further embodiment for a lid according to the invention with
another shape of the
tear device.
Figure I shows a partially sectional side view of an embodiment of a lid 1
according to the
invention on a cup-like container 2.
The container 2 has an upper container opening 3, also see the other figures,
being surrounded by an
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opening edge 4 flanged to the outside. At its lower end, a bottom piece is
inserted in the container 2
and held there and sealed in a manner known per se by an end section of a
container wall 24 bent
over inwards.
The lid 1 is placed on the top of the container 2. The lid comprises an
essentially plane cover piece
lying on the opening edge 4 from above in a sealing manner. The lid I
furthermore has a lid edge
6 which extends from the lid piece 5 inclined downwards and outwards. The lid
edge 6 extends
along the opening edge 4 in the circumferential direction 9 around the
container. At the lid edge 6,
in particular at a lower end 14, also see Figure 2, a tear device 27 is
arranged. This can be gripped
by a user and moved along a tearing direction 29 essentially in the
circumferential direction 9
around the container 2, also see Figures 6a, 6b and 7.
If the tear device 27 is moved into the tearing direction 29, the lid edge 6
begins to break in the
region of a front edge 29 of the tear device 27 in the tearing direction 29.
In prolongation of this
front edge 28 or else as edge itself, a tear aid 30 as formed as material
weakening line 31 in the lid
edge 6. It extends essentially vertically upwards towards the opening edge 4.
Perpendicularly to the
tear aid 30, in the circumferential direction 9 and also in the tearing
direction 29, an edge tear-off
aid 32 extends. This is also designed as material weakening line.
By moving the tear device 27 into the direction of the tearing direction 29, a
lower portion of the lid
edge 6 is separated along the edge tear-off aid 32 together with a locking
edge 10 as locking
element 7, so that the lid 1 can be removed from the container 2, also see
Figures 6b and 7.
By separating the corresponding portion of the lid edge for removing the lid
1, one gets an
indication that the container 2 with lid I is already being used, or that at
least first attempts have
been made for removing the lid I from the container 2. This makes the lid
tamper-evident, as this
attempt of opening cannot be undone and can be also detected by another user.
In Figure 2, a detail "X" of Figure 1 is shown in enlargement. Same parts are
always designated by
the same reference numerals in all figures and are partially mentioned only in
connection with one
figure.
The container 2 has an opening edge 4 flanged outwards at the upper end of its
container wall 24.
The lid piece 5 of the lid I rests on the upper side thereof with its bottom
side 33. In the region of
this opening edge, the lid piece 5 comprises an edge flange 11 essentially
projecting vertically
upwards. Along this edge flange as well as along the bottom side 33, a fluid-
tight plastic foil 34 is
applied to the lid piece 5. The lid piece 5 as well as the remaining part of
the lid 1 is otherwise
formed of one or several paper layers 38. Instead of one paper layer, two
paper layers, in particular
connected by means of lamination, correspondingly one or several cardboard
layers and the like,
can also be used.
A lid edge 6 of the lid I is connected with the lid piece 5 via its edge
flange 11. This lid edge 6
extends from the lid piece 5 inclined downwards and outwards.
The lid edge 6 comprises an upper edge end section 12. This has essentially
the shape of an inverted
U. The edge flange 11 is inserted into a corresponding U-opening 13 and there
fixed between the
corresponding U-legs.
The lid edge 6 comprises, following the upper edge end section 12, an upper
edge section 15, an
intermediate edge section 17, a lower edge section 16 and a lower edge end
section 8. The upper
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and lower edge sections 15, 16 extend outwards with an angle of inclination
with respect to the
container 2. The intermediate edge section 17 and the lower edge end section 8
are less inclined
outwards and can also extend essentially vertically, see Figures 7a to 7.
The corresponding edge sections 15, 17, 16 and 8 of the lid edge 6 result in
an approximately
stepped extension of the lid edge to its lower end 14.
The corresponding angles of inclination of the upper edge section 15,
intermediate edge section 17,
lower edge section 16 and lower edge end section 8 are represented in Figure
3, see there reference
numerals 18, 19, 20 and 21.
With respect to the angles of inclination 20 and 21 for the upper and lower
edge sections 15, 16,
there is the possibility for them to be the same, also see Figures 4a to 7, as
well as the angles of
inclination 18, 19 of the intermediate edge section 17 and the lower edge end
section 8. In another
embodiment, also see Figure 3, the angles of inclination 20, 21 are different,
and in particular the
angle of inclination 21 can be larger than the angle of inclination 20.
The different angles of inclination result each from the corresponding angle
between a vertical and
the corresponding outward inclination of the corresponding edge section.
In the region of the intermediate edge section 17, the edge tear-off aid 32
can be seen below the
opening edge 4. It is arranged at a smaller distance to the lower end 14 of
the lid edge 6 than a
bottom side of the opening edge 4. This ensures that even if a part of the lid
edge 6 is separated
along the edge tear-off aid 32, the lid 1 can still be placed onto the
container 2, and correspondingly
a holding of the lid at the opening edge 4 by its abutment to the
corresponding inner side of the lid
edge 6 is possible.
The lower edge end section 8 is essentially designed in two layers of an outer
layer 22 and an inner
layer 23, also see Figure 3. This two-layer construction results from folding
or bending a
prolongation of the outer layer as inner layer to the inside of the outer
layer and a corresponding
connection of both layers at least in the region of the lower edge end section
8. As to the other parts,
the inner layer 23 is a continuation of the outer layer 22. The inner layer 23
extends to the lower
edge section 16 at an angle of inclination 21 and correspondingly extends
inclined inwards and
upwards towards the lid piece 5. The inner layer essentially extends following
the lower edge
section 16 separate from the rest of the lid edge 6 towards the container wall
24 and thereby forms
the locking edge 10 as locking element 7. The locking edge 10 extends around
the complete
container 2 in the circumferential direction 9.
A free end of the locking edge 10 grips below the opening edge 4 and is
arranged closely to an
outer side of the container wall 24 when the lid I is placed on the container
2, or else it is possibly
in abutment with the container wall.
The abutment of the free end 25, also see Figure 3, of the locking edge 10 at
the outer side of the
container wa1124 can be effected such that after a corresponding placing on of
the lid I onto the
container 2, the free end 25 is further deflected by the abutment with the
container wall 24 towards
the opening edge 4 in order to increase the tamper-evidence of the lid 1. The
deflection can be
effected in this connection so far that the free end essentially at least
partially engages a gap 39
between the opening edge 4 and the container wall 24.
When the lid 1 is placed onto the container 2, the lid edge 6 can be
elastically radially expanded
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outwards at least with the lower edge end section 8, the lower edge section 16
and the intermediate
edge section 17 as well as the locking edge 10 so that it can be passed along
the opening edge 4. As
soon as the free end 25 reaches the bottom side of the opening edge 4, it is
pressed towards the
container wall 24 and in particular into the gap opening 39 between the
flanged opening edge 4 and
the container wall 24 due to the elasticity of the lid edge 6 and the locking
edge 10.
In Figures 4a to 4c, various steps of placing a corresponding lid I onto a
container 2 are shown. In
these steps, in particular the deflection of the locking edge can be seen.
In the lid 1 according to Figures 4a to c, it can in particular be seen that
the angles of inclination of
the upper and lower edge sections as well as of the intermediate edge section
and the lower edge
end section are each the same, the intermediate edge section and the lower
edge end section
essentially extending vertically.
Furthermore, in Figures 4a to c a structuring of the lid I on its outer side
in the region of the upper
edge end section 12 can be seen. This structuring is formed by a plurality of
indentations and
elevations, respectively, arranged in the circumferential direction 9.
In Figure 3, two lids 2 arranged one upon the other and being stacked are
depicted. With respect to
the description of the corresponding details, reference is made to the other
figures as well as the
corresponding description.
In Figure 3, one can in particular still see that an internal diameter 35 of
the lower edge end section
8 is larger than an extetnal diameter 36 of the upper edge end section 12.
This permits to stack the
two lids 2 at least so far that the upper edge end section 12 of a lower lid
is inserted into the upper
lid up to the bottom side of the locking edge 10, also see Figure 5. The
locking edge 10 forms at
least in the embodiment according to Figure 3 a stack stop element 37 resting
on the upper edge end
section 8 of the lower lid 2 from above and essentially from outside.
In the embodiment according to Figure 5, the lower edge end section 8 and the
upper edge end
section 12 essentially extend vertically, so that the stacked lids are
arranged one upon the other so
as to precisely fit, and the lower lid is inserted into the upper lid until it
approximately abuts the
lower end 14 of the upper lid with the upper edge section 15.
In Figures 6a and b as well as 7, further embodiments of a tear device 27 are
shown. In Figure 6b,
the separable portion of the lid edge 6 is at least partially already
separated.
This analogously applies to Figure 7, in this embodiment the tear device 27
being essentially not
formed as a separate part of the lid edge 6 but by a part of the lid edge 6
arranged adjacent to the
tear line 30.
With respect to the container cross-sections and equally the corresponding
shapes of the lid, it
should be moreover pointed out that these can be round, oval, elliptical,
square, rectangular or the
like. In cornered embodiments, rounded edges are advantageous.
Furthermore, it should be pointed out that not only due to the elasticity of
the lid edge 6 and
correspondingly of the locking edge 10, a placing of the lid 1 onto the
container 2 is possible.
Normally, also the container 2 is at least partially elastic in the region of
the opening edge 4 or the
container wall 24, respectively, so that the container, too, can elastically
be deformed when the lid
is placed on.
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In the embodiments according to Figures 4a to 7 it should be noted that there
a corresponding angle
of inclination of the locking edge 10 is essentially the same as the angle of
inclination 20, 21 from
the upper and lower inclined edge sections 15, 16. Here, the corresponding
angles of inclination 20,
21 are also essentially the same, while the other edge sections 12, 17, 8 are
not inclined and
essentially extend vertically.
In the embodiments according to Figures 4a to 7, another difference exists in
that there the lid piece
essentially extends to the lower end of the upper edge section 15 radially
outwards and
approximately ends with the outer contour of the opening edge 4. This results
in an improved seal
of the container 2 by the lid piece 5. Moreover, a smaller gap remains between
the lid edge 6 and
the opening edge 4, see for example Figure 2 in comparison with Figure 4c.
In the embodiments of Figures 4a to 7, it is in particular shown how the free
end 25 of the locking
edge 10 engages with the gap opening 39 between the container wall and the
opening edge 4.
